HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0883.044 2006-2008
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Murashige, Laura C6-
From: Delan Perry [hipapayas@earthlink.net] CC" 7 T
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 10:31 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Attachments: Conty testimony, full council 1-08.doc
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1/24/2008
Hawaii Papaya Industry Association
I am here today because I deeply believe we need a strong
agricultural foundation to take into the future. I am also here today
because this resolution in support of HB 1577 puts the future of taro
at risk.
The diseases that could severely impact taro are only a plane ride or
a ship voyage away. What we need is dedicated researchers and
quarantine officers finding solutions to the potential new invasive
species before they can get to Hawaii.
We accomplish this by looking at taro, and each important crop, to
find ways to stop new pests' introduction and develop ways to defeat
them should these pests still make it to Hawaii.
There are a number of tools that can be developed, and learning from
the home of a new invasive is essential. Chemicals, identification of
predators, cultural practices, traditional plant breeding for resistance
are all ways to control new pests, but must be perfected before a
new invasive gets established. Biotechnology is one of the tools that
may be successful. Probably, like in the case of papaya,
biotechnology will be a last resort because it is complex, expensive,
and often slow to develop. But we don't have the luxury to ignore
what can sometimes be a very sharp and effective tool.
If you want an example of what can happen when new pest come in,
there are many. Look at the effect of over 1000 invasive species
since 1943, including the little fire ant, nettle caterpillar, leafminers,
papaya mealybug, pink hibiscus mealybug, silverleaf whitefly,
spiraling whitefly, giant whitefly, citrus blackfly, Asian citrus psyllid,
oriental fruit fly, western flower thrips, banana rust thrips, erythirna
gall wasp, hibiscus erineum mite,crab spider, African snail, golden
apple snail, brown slug, in addition to numerous vertebrates (coqui
frogs, giant day gecko, veiled chameleon) and weeds (Salvinia
molesta, fireweed, gorse).
Look at the example of the Papaya Industry. Even since Papaya
Ringspot Virus nearly destroyed the industry in the early 1990's.
Three new damaging insects and one voracious fungus have come in
the last 7 years. While many crops have not been so "lucky", it should
be obvious that all Hawaii agriculture is at risk and needs all the
research and port of entry barriers we can develop. We know there
are over 30 pest that could be even worse if the got here in various
parts of our world.
Now is definitely not the time to take a nap and forgo the possible
benefit to this war of any effective tool.
I don't want a future where only the rich can afford the surviving poi.
Thank you very much,
Sincerely,
Delan Perry
Vice President